and defense personnel based upon legal guidance that has since been repudiated. the most important decision may have been to declare the geneva convention did not apply to al qaeda and taliban captives in afghanistan or guantanamo. the administration never specified what rules would apply instead. the task force believes that u.s. defense intelligence professionals and service members in harm's way need absolutely clear orders on the treatment of detainees, requiring, at a minimum, compliance with common article three of the geneva convention. this was not done. civilian leaders and military commanders have an affirmative responsibility to ensure that their sub ard natures comply with the laws of war. president obama has committed to observe the geneva conventions through an executive order, about the a future president could change it by the stroke of a pen. congress, one of our recommendations, needs to work with the administration to strengthen torture statutes, the war crimes act, and the uniform code of military justice to remove the loopholes that allow tor